I keep falling asleep every time. What should I do?

[dust8879]

Every night I attempt an astral projection, and I just cannot stay awake. I try early in the morning, and I don't even remember seeing hypnagogic imagery. I just crash out and start dreaming. What should I do?

Last year I tried to sit upright but that just caused insomnia because it was so uncomfortable. If I try to astral project in the afternoon I can't relax enough; my mind is just far too alert.

Would the best option for me be to try and become lucid in my dreams (through reality checks and milds) and then turn that into an astral projection? In the night I am so groggy I can't focus or imagine any techniques.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[Szaxx]

Set an alarm to wake you after one hour less than normal. If this doesn't help after a week set it up two hours before waking normally. You get the picture.
If you are crashing out when you normally wake trying the art, you will need to get more sleep.
It's a balance that can be found once you stick to a routine to start with.
It's easier to attempt with too much sleep using the alarm.
Not enough sleep will make things harder to do. The transition time whilst tired is far shorter, it's also less pronounced making signposts easier to miss.

[000MobianAngel000]

Every night I attempt an astral projection, and I just cannot stay awake. I try early in the morning, and I don't even remember seeing hypnagogic imagery. I just crash out and start dreaming. What should I do?

Last year I tried to sit upright but that just caused insomnia because it was so uncomfortable. If I try to astral project in the afternoon I can't relax enough; my mind is just far too alert.

Would the best option for me be to try and become lucid in my dreams (through reality checks and milds) and then turn that into an astral projection? In the night I am so groggy I can't focus or imagine any techniques.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

How late do you do attempt at AP? I do have trouble in the morning too, attempting an OOB or AP because I'm still too tired to do anything. Maybe eat things with more iron in them to keep you less groggy at night.

[dust8879]

Set an alarm to wake you after one hour less than normal. If this doesn't help after a week set it up two hours before waking normally. You get the picture.
If you are crashing out when you normally wake trying the art, you will need to get more sleep.
It's a balance that can be found once you stick to a routine to start with.
It's easier to attempt with too much sleep using the alarm.
Not enough sleep will make things harder to do. The transition time whilst tired is far shorter, it's also less pronounced making signposts easier to miss.

I'll try this. I used to do this before at about 8AM. I'd be imagining myself going up an elevator or walking around in my local neighbourhood, and briefly I felt as if my body was melting. Then I'd hear a whoosing sound. It never went further than that, though. Most of the time after 7-8 hours of sleep I'd just lie there for ages with nothing happening. I've got to somehow find the right time in the morning to do it.

[dust8879]

How late do you do attempt at AP? I do have trouble in the morning too, attempting an OOB or AP because I'm still too tired to do anything. Maybe eat things with more iron in them to keep you less groggy at night.

Thank you for the reply. I usually try to astral project every time I wake up, which is 3-4 times a night. I've been trying Michael Raduga's indirect method where you attempt to project immediately after a dream without moving, but this hasn't been working for me. It looks like the one time it did work for me was because I had been woken up very abruptly. Maybe that's the only time it works.

The other problem I don't want to have is insomnia after trying to astral project. This happened last year around July. I tried so much to reach the mind awake/body asleep state it ruined my sleep cycles and I almost forgot how to fall asleep. I don't want that to happen again. I'll take more Iron like you suggested.

[Szaxx]

It actually helps you to feel groggy, the sound of wind rushing is a very positive signpost. This sound is one of the last things you hear before exit. It's known as the astral wind and other names too for hundreds of years.
Stay aware of yourself when you hear it and just float up, imagine being 100 feet up and seeing whats below.

[dust8879]

I'm seriously considering trying to project in the afternoon again. I haven't done it in months, but at least there's a lot less chance of falling asleep and completely missing the opportunity at that time of day. Somehow I'm going to have make myself groggy and tired. My mind is just so alert during the day, though. The good thing about that is I won't miss out on any sleep during the night.

[dust8879]

It actually helps you to feel groggy, the sound of wind rushing is a very positive signpost. This sound is one of the last things you hear before exit. It's known as the astral wind and other names too for hundreds of years.
Stay aware of yourself when you hear it and just float up, imagine being 100 feet up and seeing whats below.

I'll do this. Usually when I notice the whoosing sound and melting feeling, it stops. Maybe my mistake is that I pay too much attention to it instead of just carrying on imagining myself going up. A lot of times my forehead seems to tighten up, too. The area between my eyes will start throbbing.

[Szaxx]

You're trying too hard, stay relaxed and just think of rising up with that same tactile feeling associated with it.
Let it simply happen all by itself. Once it's done, you'll instantly know.

[dust8879]

Okay, thankyou.


I'm definitely going to try in the afternoon again. I hate it when my sleep cycles get affected.

[Aaron330]

I've been trying every morning at 4 or 5 am with absolutely no results whatsoever. It is by far the hardest time for me. However every time I try to do it during an afternoon nap I have huge success (I haven't projected yet, but I mean with getting to sleep paralysis and all the signposts). I've actually had more success accidentally at night before sleep than I've ever had early morning, which people say is the "magical time" to have OBE's. I think some things just don't work for certain people, so figure out what works for you!